CE Marking
Updated : DioMet are fully UKCA certified (formerly CE marking as referred) for processes within the scope of EN 1090-1 - Part 1 : Requirements for conformity assessment of structrual components.
There has been some considerable confusion within the industry regarding CE marking especially surrounding balustrades and handrails. Not every individual component or part has been classified and there is an ongoing process within the European Commission to form clarity. It has however been made clear that 'common balustrades' are not structural products and do not fall within the scope of EN 1090-1.
Therefore all 'common balustrades' as sold by DioMet do not fall within the CE marking regulation at present as a non-structural element of works. DioMet will however continue working towards a full CE marked system for all products including balustrades but at present the regulation will only concern those products directly attributed as 'structural' for example steel staircases. Where individual balustrading component parts are sold individually, CE marking is also not applicable.
Many companies in the industry including DioMet have incurred significant costs and time preparing for CE marking systems and compliance under the scope of EN 1090 and further updates will be posted when full clarity is received from the European Commission. At present however, DioMet remain committed to providing the highest quality service possible and remain fully compliant within the current legal requirements.
Should you have any queries on our CE marking status or require further information, please contact our office.
The following is an extract document from The Department For Communities and Local Government, sent to us by another industry professional :
Re: European Commission’s latest view on CE marking of Balustrade
We are writing to provide further information in relation to the European Commission’s comments on applicability of CE
marking for products covered by EN 1090-1. We have received the text below from the European Commission.
As stated previously, the UK is not in a position to offer interpretation of the Regulation. However, the Commission’s views
could prove useful for those business interested in assessing whether CE marking is relevant to their products.
Whilst circulating this view, we would as before provide a reminder that there is still a requirement to demonstrate how
these products are suitable for their intended use and satisfy the requirements of, for example, the building regulations in
the UK.
European Commission’s Text: 27/11/14
“Concerning the issue of balustrades (and while we are still expecting certain clarifications from CEN) our position could be
seen as follows:
Depending on the function that balustrades have in construction works one can clearly distinguish:
common balustrades which have as a function to prevent a person from falling in the void and
those balustrades (not very common indeed) which, in addition to preventing a person from falling in the void, have the
role to support the structure of the construction works (or a part of the structure).
In this second case balustrades have a structural function in relation to the construction work (i.e their performance may
affect the mechanical resistant and stability of a part of the building or the civil engineering work, i.e. the satisfaction of
BWR1 is at stake). In page 8 of the Interpretative Document 1 it is stated that “structure” means an “organized assembly
of connected parts designed to provide mechanical resistance and stability to the works”.
Any such structural balustrades with a structural role as explained above are covered by the mandate M/120 and the
harmonised EN 1090-1 and must therefore be placed on the market with a DoP and the CE marking.
Common balustrades which have as a function “just” to prevent a person from falling in the void are not structural
balustrades. These common balustrades influence the safety of the construction works (BWR 4) and therefore when placed
on the market they are within the scope of the CPR. Also Interpretative Document Nr 4 (on Safety in use) refers in page 112
these common balustrades without a structural role.
Furthermore according to the clarifications received from the competent CEN/TC135 (and annexed to FAQ 31 in our
website) these non-structural balustrades are not covered by the EN 1090-1. For these 2 reasons our interpretation is that
common balustrades (i.e. without a structural role) cannot be CE marked on the basis of the standard EN 1090-1”.
Please login to Comments